By BEN JOHNSON

Press Sports Editor

Leading up to the first game of the season at Tarleton State, Northeastern State coach Kenny Evans had a big question mark in the RiverHawks’ kicking game.

Evans was concerned that Drew Patton, a freshman kicker from Fayetteville, Ark., might not be able to play against the Texans due to nagging injuries that just wouldn't go away.

"He was a little bit injured when he got here," Evans said. "And for the first couple of weeks, we were wondering what we were going to do if we had to kick a field goal."

Patton, however, put Evans' worries to rest less than five minutes into the RiverHawks' season-opening game in Stephenville, Texas, booting a 44-yard field goal in NSU's stunning 31-23 victory. Patton, replacing Jared Homer after being thrust into the starting kicking role, went on to go 3 for 3 on field-goal attempts against the Texans.

So what was going through Patton's mind when he was called upon to try a 44-yarder in the his college debut?

"I thought, 'this is a good way to start,'" said Patton, who also drilled a 29-yard field goal and a 32-yarder on Thursday. "I thought I would be a lot more nervous than I was, but I just went out there and went through the motions. I kicked it, and I wasn't that nervous, really."

When Patton sent the ball hurling toward the uprights, he wanted the ball to do one thing.

"At first, it was going straight at the pole," he said. "I was thinking, 'please don't hit the upright.' But then it finally curved in at the last second, and everyone was getting all jacked up and excited."

Evans admitted that he wasn't bursting with confidence when he sent his Fayetteville High School graduate out onto the field.

"It was one of those situations where it was his first field goal, it was a 44-yarder into the wind and as a true freshman probably wasn't supposed to make it," said Evans, whose team is 1-0 heading into its home opener against fifth-ranked Abilene Christian on Saturday night. "I'm sure everyone looked at it that way, and there was probably less pressure on him at that point.

"And when he made it, everything was really easy after that point."

With three field goals to his name, Patton — at the moment — leads the Lone Star Conference in field goals made and is tied for the league lead in field goal percentage (100 percent) with Central Oklahoma's Chris Robbs.

"It feels good," said Patton on topping the LSC charts among place kickers. "I've got a lot more confidence now with three field goals out of the way right now."

Comparing college football to high school, Patton, who credited NSU kicking instructor to James Peachey for his success, said the stakes are much higher at the collegiate level.

"There's a lot more riding on (each kick)," said Patton, whose longest field goal in high school was 52 yards. "...And in college, there is a lot more consistency in each drive, and you get more attempts."

As for the RiverHawks' eight-point victory over Tarleton State, Patton said it's only the beginning of what he and his teammates want to accomplish in 2010.

"Everyone is pretty excited," he said. "And I don't think there is any limit to what we can achieve this year.

"And obviously we have a top-10 opponent coming in this week, so everyone is real excited about that. If we can get that win right there, that would be huge."